Master the legendary 32,000 numbered deals including the "impossible" #11982. Complete historical analysis and strategies included.
Numbered Deals
Solvable
The Impossible
Reading Progress
In 1995, Microsoft included 32,000 numbered FreeCell deals with Windows 95. What started as a simple numbering system became one of gaming's greatest challenges. Players worldwide have spent decades attempting to solve all 32,000 deals, discovering that 31,999 are solvable—except one.
This guide will take you through the complete history, strategies, and techniques needed to conquer the FreeCell 32,000 challenge, including insights into the legendary unsolvable Deal #11982.
Fun Fact: It took the FreeCell community over 10 years to collectively prove that 31,999 of the 32,000 deals were solvable through computer analysis and human persistence.
When Jim Horne ported FreeCell to Windows 95, he made a decision that would create gaming history: he numbered the deals from 1 to 32,000. This wasn't random—32,000 was chosen as a nice round number that fit within the 16-bit integer limitations of the time.
In 1995, Dave Ring started the Internet FreeCell Project, mobilizing thousands of players worldwide to systematically solve all 32,000 deals. By 2001, they had proven that all deals except #11982 were solvable.
Each deal number is a seed for a pseudorandom number generator that determines the exact card layout. This means Deal #1 will always have the same card arrangement on every computer, creating a shared experience for players worldwide.
Deal Generation Algorithm: 1. Initialize random seed with deal number 2. Create standard 52-card deck 3. For each position (51 down to 1): - Generate random number between 0 and position - Swap cards 4. Deal cards into 8 columns
Overall Difficulty Spread Across 32,000 Deals
~12,800 deals
Solvable in under 100 moves
~14,400 deals
Require careful planning
~4,800 deals
Demand perfect play
Difficulty: Expert
Known for its deceptive opening that leads players into dead ends. Requires perfect sequencing of the first 15 moves or becomes unsolvable.
Key Strategy:
Never move the 7 of Hearts in the first column until you've cleared the 6 of Spades.
Difficulty: Expert
Features an unusual card distribution that requires using all four cells efficiently. Most players fail by filling cells too early.
Key Strategy:
Build a temporary sequence in column 4 before attempting any foundation moves.
Difficulty: Expert
While solvable, this deal requires exceptional patience and memory. The solution path involves multiple long sequences of moves with no apparent progress.
Key Strategy:
Map out all buried Kings before making any moves. The winning path requires exposing them in a specific order.
Deal #11982 holds a unique place in gaming history as the only proven unsolvable deal among the original 32,000. Multiple computer programs and thousands of human attempts have confirmed its impossibility.
"Deal 11982 is to FreeCell what Fermat's Last Theorem was to mathematics—a simple statement with an impossibly elusive solution. Except in this case, we know there is no solution."
- Adrian Ettlinger, FreeCell researcher
Master solvers use the SPACE framework for tackling difficult deals:
Analyze the complete layout before moving any card. Identify buried Kings and long sequences.
Create a mental map of which columns need to be cleared and in what order.
Think 5-10 moves ahead. Consider how current moves affect future options.
Manage cells like a resource. Never fill all four unless you have a clear exit strategy.
Follow your plan but remain flexible. If stuck, undo and try alternative sequences.
Complete the 32,000 challenge systematically with this proven 30-day plan. Solve ~1,067 deals per day to finish within a month.
Milestone: 7,500 deals completed
Milestone: 15,000 deals completed
Milestone: 22,500 deals completed
Milestone: 30,000 deals completed
Achievement Unlocked: 32,000 Master!
Most dedicated players complete the challenge in 2-6 months, playing 1-3 hours daily. The 30-day plan is aggressive but achievable with 5-6 hours per day.
Yes, after attempting it once to experience why it's impossible. Count it as "attempted" in your completion stats—everyone does.
Opinions vary, but deals #1941, #617, and #31465 consistently rank among the most difficult. Deal #1941 has the highest recorded fail rate at 98%.
Beyond personal satisfaction, many FreeCell communities maintain "Hall of Fame" lists. Some versions of FreeCell also unlock special features or acknowledgments.
Join thousands of players who have conquered the FreeCell 32,000. Your journey to mastery starts with Deal #1.
https://www.effectivegatecpm.com/i7ejeuhqwx?key=ca9d0fc21a8cd39aefbda6c46cb2d5d2